Sebastian softball coach suspended for unsportsmanlike conduct

SEBASTIAN - Sebastian River softball coach DeDe Justice has been suspended six weeks by the Florida High School Athletic Association for unsportsmanlike conduct and will miss the remainder of the season.

Justice was ejected from the Sharks' game against Rockledge on Monday in the 11th inning — of a 7-6 loss in 13 innings — after questioning a call and using inappropriate language directed at an official, according to an incident report filed to the FHSAA by the MidCoast Officials Association.

The officials' report stated Justice said he "sucks" while questioning a judgment call. According to the report, after Justice was ejected, she tried to bump the official but missed and ultimately threw a clipboard down before continuing to bad-mouth the officials.

Sharks Athletic Director Michael Stutzke said "there is no excuse for questioning the officials," but he has not received any confirmation of foul language or physical contact from anyone in attendance of the game, and the school will be appealing with hopes of reducing the suspension.

"(With) the response from DeDe and our coaching staff and kids, and the response from parents, there is no confirmation of vulgar language or physical contact with an official," said Stutzke, who was not in attendance at the game but also spoke with three faculty members who were there. "All we can do is gather the information on our side, submit it to the FHSAA and ask them to review it."

The FHSAA deemed the incident "Level 2 unsportsmanlike conduct," according to a letter the association sent to Stutzke and Sebastian River principal Todd Racine.

"Coaches have a responsibility to teach good sportsmanship by example," FHSAA Assistant Executive Director Justin Harrison wrote in the letter. "Under no circumstances should a coach attempt to publicly criticize, berate or intimidate an official. Judgement calls on the part of an officials are not subject to question or discussion."

Justice said she was "shocked" when she saw the official's report. She did throw a clipboard but said she did not use profanity or try to make contact with the official.

"I was surprised by the report because I'm not disrespectful, but I will ask for help from an umpire," Justice said. "I didn't understand why profanity got thrown into the report when it didn't happen. I don't feel it's fair my suspension is based on a false report. I can accept responsibility for being ejected if I was questioning too much, but the scene that happened happened after the ejection. I said ‘suck' after he ejected me because I was completely caught off guard because he didn't give me any warning. It is what it is. As of right now, we're appealing it and we'll see what happens from there."

Justice's suspension prevents her from attending Sebastian River softball games in any capacity until May 20, but since that date is more than a week after the state tournament ends, the punishment would carry over to next season. District tournaments begin Monday, and assistant Kristy Tankersley will serve as interim head coach.

The school also will be fined $250, and Justice will be required to complete a six-hour online "Fundamentals of Coaching" course.

"The rules are clear, she shouldn't have argued the call, but I'm going to be supportive of coach Justice based on the reports we have," Stutzke said. "You have to hope when they see her side they will weight it. Obviously, there's a suspension and a fine. We agree she was wrong. It's the severity of the punishment we hope they will look at."